Secure localization algorithm based on node cooperative for sensor networks

As to the safety threats faced by sensor networks (SN), nodes limitations of computation, memory and communication, a secure location algorithm (node cooperative secure localization, NCSL) is presented in this paper. The algorithm takes the improvements of SN location information security as its design targets, utilizing nodes’ cooperation to build virtual antennae array to communicate and localize, and gains arraying antenna advantage for SN without extra hardware cost, such as reducing multi-path effects, increasing receivers’ signal to noise ratio and system capability, reducing transmitting power, and so on. Simulations show that the algorithm based on virtual antennae array has good localization ability with a at high accuracy in direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation, and makes SN capable to resist common malicious attacks, especially wormhole attack, by using the judgment rules for malicious attacks. Foundation item: Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (60272014) and the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (2005AA121520).